Beryl is designated a ‘deadly storm’ as 121 Texas counties brace for hurricane impact: Live

Tropical Storm Beryl — which is expected to make landfall in southeast Texas as a Category 1 hurricane — could be a “deadly storm” for anyone in its path, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said during a news conference Sunday.

“The good news is that the storm looks like it’s going to move quickly across the state,” Patrick said during the press conference. “There will be heavy rain, but the storm will move quickly.”

He also said 121 counties are now covered by disaster declarations, allowing Austin to use state funds to help prepare for and respond to the storm.

The city of Galveston announced Sunday that it will close all of its public facilities in preparation for the arrival of Tropical Storm Beryl, which is expected to make landfall as a Category 1 hurricane in southeast Texas on Monday morning.

“Out of an abundance of caution, city facilities will be closed on Monday and only essential employees will be in attendance,” the city said in a Facebook post. “Recreation centers, public buildings, the municipal courthouse and City Hall will also be closed on Monday.”

The city said the closures will not affect police, fire and emergency services. Public works crews dealing with storm-related infrastructure will also remain operational.

The city said public buildings are scheduled to reopen Tuesday.

Tropical Storm Beryl is gaining strength as it approaches Texas and could make landfall as a Category 2 hurricane, the National Hurricane Center said Sunday.

The storm’s maximum sustained winds are currently 65 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Some of the storm’s outer rain bands have begun to reach the southeast Texas coast, bringing heavy rain and brief thunderstorms to the area.

Beryl is expected to reach hurricane strength later today.

“Beryl is expected to strengthen through landfall early Monday, and people should prepare for the possibility of a Category 2 hurricane making landfall,” the National Hurricane Center said in a statement issued at 11 a.m. local time.

The National Weather Service still expects Tropical Storm Beryl to hit Texas as a Category 1 hurricane Monday morning.

This would make Beryl the first Atlantic hurricane to hit the United States during the summer and fall hurricane season of 2024.

Florida communities come together to help other communities affected by Hurricane Beryl.

The storm has killed at least nine people in the Caribbean and hit the island of Carriacou in Grenada earlier this week.

Floridians — no strangers to the power of hurricanes — have begun donating essential supplies and volunteering their time to prepare donated goods for shipment to hurricane-hit communities that need them most.

Hurricane Beryl is expected to make landfall in southeast Texas early Monday morning as a Category 1 hurricane.

State officials issued a disaster declaration for 40 counties ahead of the storm’s arrival.

The National Weather Service issued several warnings for Tropical Storm Beryl Sunday ahead of its expected arrival in southeast Texas early tomorrow morning.

The agency issued a message warning of the possibility of a “life-threatening storm surge” late Sunday into Monday along the state’s coast.

The storm warning extends from “the northern entrance to Padre Island National Seashore to High Island, including Corpus Christi Bay, Matagorda Bay, and Galveston Bay.”

The storm is expected to hit the coast with strong winds starting later tonight.

“Hurricane Beryl is expected to bring damaging, hurricane-force winds to portions of the Texas coast late tonight and Monday,” the National Weather Service warned. “A hurricane warning has been issued from Baffin Bay to San Luis Pass. Prepare for tropical storm conditions late today.”

In addition to those warnings, the National Weather Service also noted that “flash and urban flooding” is expected “in portions of the central and upper Texas Gulf Coast and East Texas” through Monday night, with river flooding also possible.

The storm will also create dangerous rip currents along much of the Gulf Coast. Swimmers should watch for warning flags before entering the waters of the Gulf.

Joe Biden and administration officials are monitoring developments of Tropical Storm Beryl as it continues to move toward southeast Texas.

“We are in close contact with our state and local counterparts, and FEMA has prepared response personnel, search and rescue teams, bottled water, meals, tarps, and generators in case they are needed,” the White House said in a statement to reporters on Sunday. “On Sunday, FEMA activated the National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) to further support local response efforts.”